My Life with Tommy

I fed him a couple of burgers at the original Tommy’s on Beverly and Rampart. Next thing I know I’m calling friends to say “I have a pit bull in the back seat of my car!” Later in a flash I glimpsed a resemblance to Tommy Lee Jones…

Monday, May 27, 2013

Monday, May 20, 2013

Thankfully, the windows at the back of the house are covered in wicker shades, so Frieda had something to grab onto when she clawed her way to safety on the roof.

I’d carelessly left the back door open and Frieda had slipped out, when Tommy, who'd been sunning himself on the back patio, charged at her, plowing right past me, though I'd flung myself across his stout body, tearing my jeans and scraping my knee.

Frieda & Louise

Phew! That was a close call. I shudder to think what would’ve happened had Frieda attempted to scratch her way up glass.

I put Tommy in the house while Frieda’s yowl echoed through the neighborhood. I couldn’t see her but I followed the sound of her cries across the roof to my neighbor’s tree. I went inside for a tall stool (note to self: must buy ladder), and by the time I’d returned she stood at the foot of the back door, meowing to get inside.

Louise & Ramona

I feel bad that Louise gets to roam the living room and bedrooms, while Tommy is barricaded in the kitchen and garage, but I'd feel worse if I ended up with a dead cat.

Louise & Ramona

And really, Tommy's life isn't that bad.

He Who Needs No Introduction, but just in case you're new here, meet Tommy.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Tommy and I stepped over electrical cables as we looped through Farnsworth Park. Mount Curve was lined with trucks and abuzz with activity. I love how a production adds Hollywood sparkle to the neighborhood, but let's be honest: a big part of the allure is the handsome men behind the scenes.

I considered striking up a conversation but was too shy. As we walked by, I played out the line I could've said, chastising myself for not having the nerve. But another opportunity awaited: up ahead three guys leaned against the back of a pick-up truck.

I boldly approached and said, “Guess who my dog is named after.”

“Charlie Sheen.”

If Tommy were a Charlie, I might call him "Chuck."

He didn't miss a beat!

"Look at him," I said. "He looks just like the actor he's named after."

The Charlie Sheen guesser struggled. It seemed to really bother him he couldn't think of Tommy's namesake. "God, there are so many of them. Give us a hint."

"He has three names," I offered.

"Jean-Claude Van Damme."

Can you imagine me calling Tommy "Jean Claude"?!

The youngest, too hip to even look up from his phone, said a name I didn’t recognize.

"You have to look at him. He looks just like this actor."

The hip dude looked at Tommy.

Tommy sat at full alert, expectantly looking at me. Then at the three men. Then back at me, as if to say, "Who's giving me the treat?!"

One guy asked if Tommy was friendly and as he moved closer, Tommy jumped toward him in his wild buck kind of way. He'd had enough of being ignored.

"Whoa! He even acts like Tommy Lee!" (Apparently the actor has a reputation.) The guy stepped back.

That's my Tommy: he lures them in and he chases them away.

On another note, let's for a moment forget that Danny DeVito cheated on his wife and applaud him for participating in the video, The Right to Know: Vote Yes on Prop 37. Or, as someone put it recently: we just want to know what's in our effin food!

The photo above is not the one we entered in the contest. Visit Pasadena Daily Photo (Wednesday, October 24) to see it. Then go back over the weekend to vote for your favorite Camelot photo of the week.

I won't tell you how to cast your vote (that's downright un-American), but let's get real: how could any Camelot top the Camelot where Tommy is?!